Tea time

it's the last day of my cruise!  so bittersweet, but I'm ready to get some real beach time. i will admit, i was slightly frustrated that instead of staying another day in the Bahamas, the cruise planners decided to have us "park" midway between my new favorite island and Miami, but i'm sure they have their reasons...

so! i decided to try out bingo for my last day. i felt like burning money/there was nothing else to do...until i re-read the itinerary for the day and saw there was tea time at 3pm!!! problem: bingo also started at 3pm. which did i choose? por que no los dos!? 

i figured tea time wouldn't last too long, so i power walked on over to the wonderful Windsong dining room and found [for once] there was no line. just like at dinner, i was escorted by the wonderful wait staff to my seat, then another followed with a box of tea bags and mini-tea pot! the only de-caffeinated bouquet available was chamomile, but that worked for me.  

salmon bruschetta, chocolate macaroon, strawberry, lemon scone

an assortment of cakes, cookies, brownies, fruit, and macaroons!! wheeled by shortly after. i died a little; it had been far too long since i dined on this delicacy. sadly, the macaroon was crunchy aka stale. thankfully, the smoked salmon bruschetta and lemon scone made up for it big time. not to mention my fancy little tea pot! overall, the whole ten minutes was surprisingly relaxing [and filling] with the ocean view and quiet company. i definitely understand why this is so popular over seas [ba-doom-pshh].

as for bingo, i thought i would be too late, but the event didn't actually start until 3:30. though i didn't win any of the 5 games of bingo, i did win 5$ from a tear-off card #ballin [similar to scratch off, except you tear off ribbons to reveal your prize]

T-Tips:

    Tea-Time

• sit near a window - nothing is more relaxing than sipping tea while enjoying an amazing ocean view
• try at least one of every treat/food item - then order seconds thirds of your favorites
• ask for honey - i personally enjoy a little sweetness to my teas and prefer honey over sugar for almost everything.
• take it all in - tea time is a mental time out, don't rush it!
• yes, i needed to get to bingo, but this was a higher priority

    Bingo

• order a few tear-off cards [they are only 1$]
• check the price of bingo cards before purchasing - oops
• use your hotel room pen to mark the numbers - bingo daubers [markers] add extra excitement to game, but unless you plan on re-using them, save your 5$ [unless you brought your own]